Police and DA release sketch of Brockton murder suspect

The Plymouth County District Attorney’s office has released a detailed sketch and new identifying information of the man wanted for the fatal beating of a Brockton grandfather.

By Amy Carboneau

The Enterprise, Brockton, MA

By Amy Carboneau

Posted Sep. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 4, 2013 at 4:10 AM

By Amy Carboneau

Posted Sep. 4, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Sep 4, 2013 at 4:10 AM

BROCKTON

» Social News

Based on witness interviews, the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office has released a detailed sketch and new identifying information of the man wanted for a Brockton grandfather’s murder.

The family of victim Lee Harmon, a 74-year-old Pentecostal minister who was bludgeoned to death with a hammer on Aug. 20, has their faith in local law enforcement and in God to bring the suspect to justice.

“He’s in God’s hands; whoever did it, he’s in God’s hands... I feel the Lord gonna let them catch him soon,” Harmon’s wife, Francis, said Tuesday from the back steps of her home.

Police are in search of an English-speaking, light-skinned Hispanic or Cape Verdean male between the age of 16 and 29, according to the press release. Authorities say the man is between 5 feet 10 inches and 6 feet tall with a thin, athletic build.

The suspect has black hair worn in a pony tail, is clean shaven and was believed to be wearing a navy Red Sox hat with a red brim the night of Aug. 20 when Harmon was killed.

The suspect would have been in the area of Clinton and James streets about 8:40 that night, authorities said in the release.

Authorities say the suspect was also believed to be wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, long light-colored shorts, black sneakers, and possibly a white T-shirt underneath his sweatshirt on the night of the crime.

Family members on Tuesday said there is a void left in their hearts and they are hopeful that with God’s help, law enforcement will catch the man responsible for the brutal crime and bring a sense of closure to their lives.

“We need to get to the bottom of this,” said Lawanda Carter, 40, who grew up with the family, calling Harmon “Pop.”

She is now studying forensics at Massasoit Community College and wants to know why, with two major pieces of evidence left at the scene (the hammer and baseball hat), it’s taking so long to catch the man.

Family members said they think at this point, it’s only a matter of time.

Plymouth County Assistant District Attorney Bridget Norton Middleton said Tuesday the composite sketch and new identifying details were the result of witness interviews. She would not comment on whether investigators are also working with video footage.

District Attorney Timothy Cruz, who has called the recent string of violence in Brockton “domestic terrorism,” has said he and his team will “do everything in our power to prosecute whoever is responsible” for Harmon’s death.

“A good man was murdered,” Cruz said at the time. “Anybody who would harm an old man, who from what I can tell is one of the better people in this city, it’s awful.”

Page 2 of 2 - Anyone with information should call investigators at 508-923-4205.

The case remains under investigation by Brockton police and state police detectives assigned to the Plymouth County District Attorney’s office.